We are experiencing one of the most volatile economic downturns since the Great Depression. And while we are not totally out of the proverbial “woods” yet, the good news is you have the opportunity to hit the reset button in 2009, embrace change, and start the year off on the right track.
Even though budgets are tight, you still need to find innovative and cost-effective ways to market your business and generate attention. Those that invest in marketing during bleak times will reap the benefits. With the competition shuttering their spending, you have the unique opportunity to communicate your message against minimal noise.
The key is to find the right balance and focus on the tools that demonstrate tangible value. Public relations, social media campaigns, and search-based advertising offer the most flexibility and versatility to “target” diverse audiences at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. And most importantly, they can be easily measured and scaled.
Whether you work with an agency or decide to do-it-yourself, tools such as blogs, online video and Twitter should sit high atop your marketing priority list in 2009. They not only allow you to quickly deliver compelling content to engage your audience, but also serve as a powerful feedback mechanism to understand important trends.